Jon from WoTup has leaked a most anticipated casting for season 3.  There have been a lot of discussion whether Elaida would be cut or merged since we have not seen her yet so I am glad we got this news.  The casting is a bit of a surprise for many people who naturally assumed this actor was going to play another role.

4 hours ago, Scarloc99 said:

The wolves, ok so to have "bigger" wolves they need to be CGi'd, which is a money sink I am happy with the show creators not making. Watching it with my wife who has never read the books she loved the wolves and they did what they are mean to do. Hopper jumping, again, it works for what it needs to show, because I would much rather the effects budget be spent on other things then just making the wolves look good.

And while European wolves are typically smaller than North American wolves these wolf-dogs are smaller still.  Even with that I prefer having the actual animals on set compared to GoT where they had to cut nearly all instances of the Dire Wolves due to budget.  Yes, I wish we could have actual big bois wolves in the show but it just is not practical.  And I am quite happy with how they are portraying the wolves with the restrictions they have.

Also yes, I teared up at Hopper trying to fly.  It was a perfect scene.

1 hour ago, Gary Again said:

Hopper! I was surprised how much that hit me but I thought they did a great job with the wolf power and actually made a beautiful moment to introduce Hopper and for all the grief they get for not following the book that just felt like a moment where the book description was brought to life. Also glad that they didn't go the CGI route with the wolves just because dogs can naturally be so expressive like the dog looked legitimately sad when Elyas said he lost his mate and you lose all of that with CGI or it's done in an over the top cheesy way.

 

Also I like how they are doing Elyas because he is acting like a wolf more than a human so he just doesn't really do small talk, he isn't too concerned about making Perrin comfortable either physically or emotionally but he's there to help and support a member of the pack. Doesn't even really care about anyone that came with Perrin because they aren't part of the pack. He's really growing on me as they go and I liked how he smiled when Hopper told Perrin his name it isn't that he's emotionless he just legitimately doesn't really GAF about any of the things that everyone else does. Also like how he's just kind of instantly ride or die with Perrin taking on the Seanchan and tearing someone's throat. That's kind of how the wolves are too in the books so I like that it doesn't take time to develop they are just there for him. We come.

 

Lanfear has absolutely nailed it and this is a role I didn't see anyone doing well, I would have been happy if we got a decent Lanfear but she is knocking it out of the park and like all of it. That whole scene with her making Rand jealous of himself and him just destroying her heart with a single comment cut so deep to the books it just worked in a lot of ways and she just nailed that as an actress. RJ had a lot of book moments where women wanted to just straight up strangle a man or thump them with a stick and she nailed it. Really liked the ending too, maybe the most epic cock block of all time and just the throat slit and then Rand is just covered in blood lol. Poor Rand is going to have trauma from this, he's going to be more worried about Moiraine jumping out of the shadows than a fade (that scene was beautiful how the fade stepped out). I also think the change to forsaken dying makes a lot of sense and I think is an improvement over book mechanics for a show, I don't want them having to recast people when they did such an amazing job casting them in the first place. 

 

Absolutely agree on these points.  The amount of joy on my face during the Hopper scene mirrored the Joy on Perrins face.  That was just such a special moment.

1 hour ago, DigificWriter said:

 

I don't think her son is a channeler; he's just old.

 

I really wanted Show!Liandrin to be around the same age as Alanna, Moiraine, and Siuan because then her and Moiraine being "Pillowfriends" would have a ready explanation.

Maybe a forbidden romance between teacher and student.

19 minutes ago, DaddyFinn said:

-Min and her wish to get rid of her powers. The tel'aran'rhiod scene with Ishy was exceptional. The lighting, eery vibe, Ishy "glitching"/skipping some frames. Chef's kiss.

 

 

I oddly didn't notice the glitching on my first watch.  When I watched it again this evening I noticed it part way through.  It was a solid way of representing Tel-aran'rhiod.  Next time I watch I will have to see if anything moves around or if candles flicker off or not.

42 minutes ago, A Memory Of Why said:

 

P.s. did anyone notice in the cold openin where Ishy looks to thr skies, towards the top of the rock formation to the right theres a building slightly sticking out?

Very much noticed that!  I do appreciate the old world ruins that keep popping up

1 hour ago, Pandemonium said:

I'm super confused about the timelines still.  Was Mins scene with Ishamael, and the girls encounter with Liandrin months before Rands visit to the Selene cabin?

I think that the only scene that scene that was shown out of order was Ishy waking Lanfear.  We heard Bayle Domon say that Moondial shattered months previous and that is what the dark prophecy was written on.  I presume the Moondial is what Ishy shattered at the beginning of the episode.

But yeah the timelines might be a little off, what with all the traveling.

One final thing I appreciate is that Selene took Rand out to Kinslayers Dagger to re-enact the book scene of ambushing him with a creature to force him to channel.  I would have preferred seeing Rand dispatch one Fade with the sword before two more appear forcing him to channel.  But what can you do.

I have a feeling that his episode is the calm before the storm.  I think events are going to start ratcheting up.

4 minutes ago, Samt said:

I'm also coming to the conclusion that it's just not worth it anymore to worry about the changes from the book.  This isn't that story.  It's not useful to try to understand them in each other's context.  

 

Your two concerns quoted above are my exact questions.  

 

Every scene with the warders or Aes Sedai discussing the implications of the bond serves only the confuse me more.  And nobody really seems to be confused, just worred about Lan.  Is Lan still bonded to Moiraine and the bond is just inactive?  Do the characters themselves not know?  Is Lan's state presently distinguishable from the state that led to Stepin's suicide?  If Lan is effectively unbonded, what does it mean for Alanna to forcibly take his bond?  Would that be distinct from Alanna just forcibly bonding an unbonded person?  

 

And in regards to Lanfear regenerating?, a big point of the forsaken is that they are ultimately regular mortals in mortal bodies once you get past all the crazy things they can do with the one power.  But leaving the book lore aside, it also raises serious questions for the show.  We're going to need some serious explanations as to how shrugging off impalement and throat slitting is not universe breaking.  Can anyone do it?  What are the limits?  If you don't have good and consistent answers for these questions, you are going to undercut a lot of tension in the show.  I question whether the creators really learned anything from the problems that superhealing created, if they are just repeating the same thing.  

I was confused at first about some of Lan's conversations with Alanna and her warders and then it donned on me.  They don't know that Moiraine has been cut off from the source.  They believe that Moiraine released her bond to Lan.

Once I realized that the conversations made more sense.

As to Lanfear regenerating it also stood out to me as a very odd and abrupt change.  But after thinking it over night the Forsaken in the books also cannot be killed my normal means it just takes a couple of extra steps.  The Dark One won't let them die either way.  I also appreciated seeing the Saa flash over her eyes.

7 minutes ago, Elder_Haman said:

I just realized something watching the "Everyday Negroes" recap of E3. Logain's talk with Rand about being able to see a glow around men who channel occurs right after the scene of the damane choosing out women from the crowd.

 

Smart writing.

And that particular damane came with Suroth and wasn't apart of the attack.  So it makes he seem even more special.

4 hours ago, Lightfriendsocialmistress said:

Does anyone know what moiraine means to do by going back to the WT? She was exiled from the tower but is evidently planning on going to tar valon anyway. How restrictive is the oath of exile and what is her intention? Can she stroll up to the tower, knock on the door, and as long as she doesn’t go inside then it’s all good? Where is siuan and does moiraine believe she is there? I’m guessing she’s going to enter the city and remain incognito but still not sure why she herself needs to go there. Maybe so she will be able to receive reports from verin on her research of the prophecies more quickly? It’s moiraine, so she probably has many reasons and most of them known only to herself. Anyone know what made her decide to go there? It’s probably obvious but I didn’t pick up on it 

I am thinking they only went to the tower to "Off Load" Lan.  But now we also have Verin gathering some information for her.  Don't think Moiraine will be sticking around.

2 hours ago, Masha said:

Did anyone notice who were attending Darkfriends Social - I saw:

 

One female Tinker, based on dress?? Anyone we know, I don't think that Tinker was ever identified in the books.

Might not be a tinker.  The outfit the child and mother are wearing are very similar to style that is being used for Amoth Plain and Amadicia according to some bts stuff.  Also the building being a 6 pointed star which happens to be part of the symbol for Amadcia.  Might just be coincidence.

Concerning Moiraine and writing Rosamund out of the show,  My theory to have your cake and eat it too would be to have Moiraine "die" but the actor is kept around as a madness to Rand.  To help so Rand's madness on screen I am hoping they will have the LTT actor on set, rather than just a voice, to argue with Rand before cutting to see others reactions to Rand arguing with nothing. I feel they could use Moiraine the same way to really crush Rand with guilt.

7 hours ago, notpropaganda73 said:

I think the fact they did not merge Machin Shin with Mashadar tells us that they are still defining them as two separate evils and hopefully this means the overall thrust of the future plot points remains the same. How they get there may end up looking very different than the books. I think we have to remember that TV just doesn't have the same time, scope or ability to delve into lore and mechanics that the books can. 

 

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The cleansing of saidin was something I found really difficult on my first read through on the books and needed the famous WotFAQ to help me with when I first read it. If they end up completely reworking it I won't be unhappy, in fact I think I would like a Nynaeve/Rand sort of secret expedition to cleanse saidin rather than the confusing event it felt like in the books with battles going on etc. We will have numerous big set-pieces if we manage to get that far so it'd make a nice change if it was Rand figuring it out, almost like a Batman detective type instead of going full superhero, and Nynaeve providing the final piece of the puzzle with saidar and her own POV on Healing. 

 

But I'm still a little unsure we are going to get much in terms of the saidin/saidar split other than that the difference between male and female channellers exists and the men go mad when channeling, with Rand trying to fix that. 

 

Not to mention that the lesson Alanna gives in the kitchen is clearly forshadowing that event, right?

3 hours ago, DaddyFinn said:

I watch/listen to non-reader reactions. It's awesome how much they like the show.

Agreed!

Just saw EverydayNegro's reation to

And that is why the did that scene.  Their reaction to it tells me they sold it properly.

1 hour ago, Agitel said:

I will say I don't view the book Seanchan attacking a tiny town that has no army. If it was a fortified city or military base, yes. It's less dramatic, but I imagine them literally just marching into a tiny town like this, declaring the town is now part of the Seanchan Empire, then demanding oaths. Maybe there's some door to door and violence in forcing paths, but just raiding such a small hamlet in the night seems a bit much. Just marching in uncontested almost displays power more.

 

This isn't a significant criticism, or maybe even much of a criticism at all. I get why they did it for TV, and the Seanchan can be a bit different for the show. Just something that crossed my book-brained mind.

In the books Atuan's mill was attacked by the Seanchan if my memory serves me correct.  Perrin and the gang pass through there looking for Fain.  The people are evasive and don't want to say what happened but there was a large scorch mark in the middle of the village that makes Hurin vomit just by being near. 

So if my memory isn't failing me the Seanchan will make a scene even in small villages.

1 hour ago, Cipher said:

Alternatively Rafe has Loial cut with a deadly dagger and then just pretends it doesn’t exist.  That is bad story telling.

 

IMO Jordan handled sex tactfully while never describing the actual act.  Closest was:

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Avienda and Rand hooking up in tent in Seanchan?

 

At least in the case of Loial we have zero idea on what the effects of the dagger are on what are essentially  Alternate reality aliens are.

8 hours ago, Mailman said:

So are you telling me that the white tower the source of knowledge for almost all things power related in the current universe which has stood for thousands of years has no idea what happens when someone is cut off from the source.

They didn't know that stilling makes the Aes Sedai de-age.

28 minutes ago, Scarloc99 said:

But this is Lan without the Bond, so he would be weaker and in many ways it makes it more impressive. “Mortal” Lan took on 2 Fades. 

This is something that is not addressed in the books and might be a change for the show.  Masking the bond is never stated to remove the other bonuses warders receive but what if it does?

In season 1 ep 6 Moiraine masks the bond to go visit Suian.  Lan approaches her and says " I can't protect you if I can't feel you".  This could be hinting to losing the other bonuses or could just be him having comfort knowing that she feels that she is safe.

Masking the bond for long periods at a time and its effects are just never addressed. 

On another hand this might just be more evidence that Moiraine is actually severed.  Lan does say that he "should have felt the fades" so it does seem he has lost his warder sense.

43 minutes ago, Elder_Haman said:

Why would Moiraine and Lan know about the consequences of severing? Moiraine has been on the hunt for the Dragon, how much experience has she had with women who have been severed? Would Lan have any idea?

 

I didn't find those scenes to be bad at all. I think that Moiraine is going to be going on Siuan's journey in place of being held by the Finn. That's actually a pretty smart choice. It keeps your A-list actress around, gives her a really good, emotional arc to play with while at the same time eliminating a fun, but ultimately unnecessary plotline.

To add to this we know the White Tower and Aes Sedai in general avoid talking about the effects of Severing.  The push away sisters who have been burnout and the such.  So it is quite possible that they don't fully understand the effects and need a bit of a refresher from a sister who isn't offended by the topic.

1 hour ago, Elder_Haman said:

 

Keep on eye on Masema. He kicked ass and the actor (Arnas Fedaravicius, Sithric from The Last Kingdom) is a really good actor. There's potential for that to be a more fleshed out storyline.

 

 

I loved the battle scene at the end of the 2nd episode.  I preferred it immensely more than the fade fight in the first.  Although credit where its due, Lan took on 3 fades and killed 2.  But the action was too many quick cuts to be enjoyable.

But yeah Masema kicked some ass and seeing Loial toss people around like sacks was fantastic.

12 minutes ago, SinisterDeath said:

 

 

HOW ABOUT THOSE GOLDEN EYES?

Absolutely love how they look on Elyas.  I could never really picture why the felt so unnatural that people would be scared by them.  But now visually seeing them, my god do they stand out. 

On a related tanget, I appreciate how they seem to be combining the sniffer abilities with the wolf senses.  I wasn't sure how you would convey smells onscreen and am currently happy with the results.

16 minutes ago, Pandemonium said:

Nobody has talked about Min's vision of Matt stabbing Rand yet.  That is definitely odd.  Is Matt going to get the dagger back and take the place of Fain leaving an evil wound on Rand?

It was certainly shocking to see on screen and I am sure Min was went immediately from "this guy is silly but fun" to "whom am I really getting to know" especially since she seemed to recognize Rand.

Upon thinking it over my wild theory  is that Mat and Fain have been "entangled"(for the lack of a better word) due to the dagger.  And that is what Min was seeing.

I am probably wildly off base though.

51 minutes ago, SinisterDeath said:

Yes. Stories have themes and tones, and they are generally keeping those same themes and tones in the show.

 

Uno for instance, swore a lot, and had a big mouth that would get him in trouble.
They kept with that theme. He swore a lot and it got him in trouble, which lead to him having a big mouth.

to soon

7 minutes ago, VooDooNut said:

Great to see a few more snippets from season 2.

The amateur quality of the narrator speaking over the video hurts the overall presentation though, imo.

 Agreed, I muted the video and just read the captions part way through.

New video on Prime youtube.

New scenes when they talk about Mat, Aviendha and Selene, all in the 2nd half of the video.

3 minutes ago, Cipher said:

We don’t really know why the writers took out the leaf key for the Ways, but speculation is to keep them locked to just anybody.  Watchers will understand only people with access to the OP can use them.

Also possible why they couldn't open it to go get Mat.  If channeling is the only way to open the ways and channeling risks summoning Ma'chin.....  Certainly plausible